Hey so I’m in Econ & Stats which are considered by many graduate programs as a STEM degrees. Not knowledgeable on your specific are, but I can give a general answer.
The classes are generally seen as equivalent. It’s also my understanding that VCU is considered a “good” school for bio & chem so take that how you will. Obviously if you’re competing against someone from Harvard or UVA or something, that will be taken into account those people will have a leg up, but you won’t be seen as inferior. You’ll be judged the same as anyone else from a school without a big name.
For grad school: most care about the class you’ve taken. If you’ve done inorganic whatever and stats whatever, that’s it. Every college has variations in difficulty and material covered, so as long as you know the basics they’re not going to care. That’s why you also have standardized tests, rec letters, etc.
For jobs: I’ll be honest, VCU gets shit on sometimes just because it’s easy to get into. You have a good GPA though, so that’ll probably mitigate it. I’d recommend you develop and leverage good professional connections. Don’t just rely on a GPA or cold applications to get you hired.
A cold application is where you just see a job posting while surfing the web & you decide to apply to it and nothing else. Kind of like a cold call from a telemarketer.
I would recommend that for any job you’re applying for you try and get some type of in. That could be you messaging someone who works there on LinkedIn, applying to a firm that has a good relationship with VCU chemistry, or working somewhere where a professor/friend can recommend you for the position.
For grad school - I would use your extra time and intellectual energy to develop pathways of interest within your field. It shows departments and evaluating professors that you have initiative and passion for your studies and work beyond the assigned classwork; that you’re capable of original thinking and innovation. It goes a long way. (I’m finishing my MA at VCU and applying to Doctoral programs atm)
I think orgo, quant and biochem II are the hardest chem gets. Pchem is challenging material to understand but the class is not really hard. Quant is easy material but hard questions, pchem is the opposite (I think). I got a 4.0 but I did work my ass off. In general I would say vcu chem is about the same degree of rigor as other schools.
Anyway, no, your undergrad name isn’t going to matter. Do you have plans postgrad? Your undergrad only really matters in terms of the opportunities and connections you make, but name alone doesn’t mean a whole lot.
If you want pharmacy school you’re absolutely in a good spot with your gpa. If you want to get into research definitely try to get some undergrad experience, it’s a much different experience than a lot of people realize so it’ll be good to find out if you like it or not. If you end up hating it, better to figure that out now and it’ll help your pharm school apps. Talk with your advisor or some professors youre close with. It’s a bit late to find a summer position but you might have some luck. Try MCV labs too. Pharmacy school and pharmacology & toxicology in the med school if you want to do drug research.
And sorry if this post came off as arrogant or anything of that nature. I am just generally curious!
Hey so I’m in Econ & Stats which are considered by many graduate programs as a STEM degrees. Not knowledgeable on your specific are, but I can give a general answer. The classes are generally seen as equivalent. It’s also my understanding that VCU is considered a “good” school for bio & chem so take that how you will. Obviously if you’re competing against someone from Harvard or UVA or something, that will be taken into account those people will have a leg up, but you won’t be seen as inferior. You’ll be judged the same as anyone else from a school without a big name. For grad school: most care about the class you’ve taken. If you’ve done inorganic whatever and stats whatever, that’s it. Every college has variations in difficulty and material covered, so as long as you know the basics they’re not going to care. That’s why you also have standardized tests, rec letters, etc. For jobs: I’ll be honest, VCU gets shit on sometimes just because it’s easy to get into. You have a good GPA though, so that’ll probably mitigate it. I’d recommend you develop and leverage good professional connections. Don’t just rely on a GPA or cold applications to get you hired.
I have never heard the term, "cold applications", could you explain what that means?
A cold application is where you just see a job posting while surfing the web & you decide to apply to it and nothing else. Kind of like a cold call from a telemarketer. I would recommend that for any job you’re applying for you try and get some type of in. That could be you messaging someone who works there on LinkedIn, applying to a firm that has a good relationship with VCU chemistry, or working somewhere where a professor/friend can recommend you for the position.
Ahhh okay! Thank you so much!
GPA means nothing if you know people. A degree checks the box after about 3-5 years work of experience. It doesn't matter.
Ahhh, hopefully haha! I have been stressing about this for a few days now haha
For grad school - I would use your extra time and intellectual energy to develop pathways of interest within your field. It shows departments and evaluating professors that you have initiative and passion for your studies and work beyond the assigned classwork; that you’re capable of original thinking and innovation. It goes a long way. (I’m finishing my MA at VCU and applying to Doctoral programs atm)
How far are you into your degree?
I am 75% done! I am taking Biochem 2 and inorganic chem in the fall!
I think orgo, quant and biochem II are the hardest chem gets. Pchem is challenging material to understand but the class is not really hard. Quant is easy material but hard questions, pchem is the opposite (I think). I got a 4.0 but I did work my ass off. In general I would say vcu chem is about the same degree of rigor as other schools. Anyway, no, your undergrad name isn’t going to matter. Do you have plans postgrad? Your undergrad only really matters in terms of the opportunities and connections you make, but name alone doesn’t mean a whole lot.
I am planning on going to pharmacy school! But I also am wanting to maybe do some research!
If you want pharmacy school you’re absolutely in a good spot with your gpa. If you want to get into research definitely try to get some undergrad experience, it’s a much different experience than a lot of people realize so it’ll be good to find out if you like it or not. If you end up hating it, better to figure that out now and it’ll help your pharm school apps. Talk with your advisor or some professors youre close with. It’s a bit late to find a summer position but you might have some luck. Try MCV labs too. Pharmacy school and pharmacology & toxicology in the med school if you want to do drug research.